Sodium and water accumulation in an injured cell are a direct result of:

Choice A Reason:

To determine how much of the medication remains in the body after a certain period, we need to understand the concept of half-life. The half-life of a medication is the time it takes for the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream to reduce by half. For Medication A, the half-life is 3 hours. After 12 hours, which is four half-lives, the amount of medication remaining can be calculated step by step.

Choice B Reason:

Let’s break down the calculation. Initially, the patient receives 400 mg of Medication A. After the first half-life (3 hours), the amount of medication remaining is 400 mg ÷ 2 = 200 mg. After the second half-life (6 hours), the amount remaining is 200 mg ÷ 2 = 100 mg. After the third half-life (9 hours), the amount remaining is 100 mg ÷ 2 = 50 mg. Finally, after the fourth half-life (12 hours), the amount remaining is 50 mg ÷ 2 = 25 mg. Therefore, 375 mg is not a correct answer.

Choice C Reason:

Similarly, 150 mg is not correct. As shown in the detailed calculation, the amount of medication decreases by half every 3 hours. After 12 hours, the remaining amount is 25 mg, not 150 mg. This choice does not align with the half-life calculation.

Choice D Reason:

This is the correct answer. The step-by-step calculation shows that after 12 hours, which is equivalent to four half-lives, the amount of Medication A remaining in the patient’s body is 25 mg. This demonstrates the principle of half-life and how the concentration of a drug decreases over time.

Choice A Reason:

The prodromal stage refers to the period during which early symptoms of a disease appear but are not yet specific or severe. This stage is often associated with infectious diseases where initial symptoms like fever, malaise, and fatigue occur before more specific symptoms develop. In the context of HIV, the prodromal stage would not be applicable as it refers to the early symptomatic phase rather than a period without symptoms.

Choice B Reason:

Remission is a term used to describe a period during which the symptoms of a disease are reduced or disappear. This term is commonly used in the context of chronic diseases such as cancer or autoimmune disorders. For HIV, remission would imply a reduction in viral load and symptoms due to effective treatment, but it does not describe the asymptomatic phase following initial exposure.

Choice C Reason:

Exacerbation refers to the worsening or flare-up of symptoms in a chronic disease. This term is often used in conditions like asthma or multiple sclerosis where symptoms can become more severe periodically. In the context of HIV, exacerbation would describe periods where symptoms become more pronounced, not the asymptomatic phase after initial exposure.

Choice D Reason:

The latent stage, also known as the clinical latency stage or asymptomatic HIV infection, is the period after initial HIV exposure when the virus is present in the body but not causing any symptoms. During this stage, HIV continues to replicate at low levels, and the individual may not feel sick or show any signs of the disease. This stage can last for several years, especially with effective antiretroviral therapy.